6. Kids Tools
Create a kids utensil drawer or basket with easy to use and kid-friendly cookware.

7. Cool Lunch Bags
Get a fun insulated lunch bag that allows you to pack cold foods. We love the bags from Built and Kid-Konserve.

8. Draw It
Get a chalkboard and let your kids write the menu on it each night. They’ll learn about food and meal planning and get a little spelling and writing practice, too.

9. Remember Milk
Consumption of milk decreased by 35 percent when flavored milk was eliminated from school lunches, resulting in a decrease in calcium, vitamins D and A, and protein—key nutrients for kids. A little sugar may be a small price to pay for nutrients kids don’t get elsewhere. Plus milk, even when it’s flavored, is caffeine free. Source: Milk Processor Education Program

10. Try Sushi
For a quick dinner better than the drive-thru, try sushi. Kids love sushi. Try the California rolls or crunchy shrimp rolls, where everything is cooked. Sushi is made fresh daily at most supermarkets and is low in fat and super nutritious.

11. Better than Soda
Make fruit ice cubes and serve with club soda or in a cup on their own. Puréed watermelon, blackberries or any other juicy fruit will work well.

12. Low-fat Healthy Granita
Make some nutritious frozen treats and get the kids involved, too. Freeze juice in a shallow pan. Let kids scrape it with a fork into a slushy, icy treat. Voila, you have granita!

13. Add Protein
For an easy breakfast sandwich make a waffle sandwich. Layer 2 frozen toasted waffles with cheese and ham for a high protein breakfast that will last longer than the waffles alone. Better yet. Add milk.

14. After School Snack
Keep nutritious after school snacks easy and accessible. Hummus is a great one. Pair with carrot sticks and pita bread.

15. Almond Milk
If your kids have a problem with dairy products, give almond milk a try. It has a mild, nutty flavor that works great with cereal or on its own. It’s made from ground almonds and contains no cholesterol or lactose. It comes in a variety of flavors, is low in calories and fat and high in vitamin D, E and B 12. T also contains 45 % of the daily values for calcium in one 8-ounce glass.

16. Use Chopsticks
Kids love a challenge, and chopsticks are definitely it. In addition to teaching coordination, it slows kids down, forcing them to eat mindfully and savor their food. Remember it takes the stomach 20 minutes to signal to the brain that you’re full.

17. Seal it with a Kiss
If your kids would rather have coco puffs than oatmeal, try topping it with a Hershey’s kiss. They’ll still get the benefits of the whole grain oats.

18. Pod Luck
Serve edamame, the green soybeans that come in a pod and are served in Asian restaurants. Kids will love getting the beans out of the pod, which will occupy them. Plus, they’re super healthy. To incorporate the bean into other snacks, try Edamame Hummus.

19. Breakfast Rule #1
Make breakfast a fiber opportunity. Buy whole grain breads with at least 3 grams fiber per slice, or cereals with at least 4 grams per serving.

20. Straws, Straws, Straws
Give a kid a fun straw and anything will be more fun to eat. Let them use straws to slurp soup, drinks, even ice cream.

Need more ideas? Check out our brand new Relish for Moms Back to School Issue for iPad and our Daily Dish App for iPhone and Android. Both feature our favorite Relish recipes and the best part is, they’re totally free to download! To learn more and download, click the image below.